We can often see some scarecrows in the rice paddy.
In October, The Scarecrow Contest is held near Osawa school.
http://www.sagamihara-kng.ed.jp/wakaayu/news/2007/news070915.htm
It is in Japanese, but you can see the pictures.

I tell you about Japanese fall festivals.

We have "O TUKI MI". It is enjoying moon viwing.
We adorn with Susuki (this is plant), some autum flowers vegetables and fruits.

And then, we have "The Sports Festival" in our school.
Children of 5th grade play 100m race, dance and Kiba-sen in this event.
Kiba-sen is a battle two teams try to get each other's caps. One team has four members, and three of them make a Horse, and one rides on it. This is Japanese traditional game for "The Sports Festival".

Children of each grade play in the same way.
Children's parents and many people who live nearby come to see and enjoy this event.

Yasue Fukushima, Osawa elementary school, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan